The Opposite of Loneliness: Individual and Societal Paths to Belonging and Trust

On Wednesday November 1^st, from 1-1:50 PM in FXB G12 or online, join us for the second installment in our Loneliness and Well-being Seminar Series, with guest speaker Dr. Louise Hawkley. Dr. Hawkley is a Principal Research Scientist at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), an affiliate organization of the University of Chicago. She is a co-investigator on the National Institute on Aging (NIA)- funded panel study, the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Her research addresses loneliness and health during aging, and she consults on this and related topics for community organizations, national and international advisory groups, and academic researchers from institutions across the country.

In this talk, Dr. Hawkley will review the definition and dimensions of the experience of loneliness and discuss individual and societal factors that trigger and exacerbate loneliness. She will highlight the role of trust in fostering a sense of belonging, and will provide examples of individual-level interventions and public health approaches to prevent loneliness and reduce its severity and duration. Set in the context of the discontent of present-day American society, this talk will strive to identify a path forward that minimizes obstacles to healthy social connections.